Early Decision 2 at Boston University Explained?

I'm a bit confused about what Early Decision 2 means at Boston University. How is it different from Early Decision 1? Trying to decide if BU's ED2 might be a better fit for my application timeline.

Early Decision (ED) is a type of college application process where you commit to attending a college if you're accepted. This type of decision is binding, meaning if you're accepted, you're required to attend that school (unless you cannot attend due to an insufficient financial aid package).

Boston University (BU) has two rounds of Early Decision: ED1 and ED2. ED1 and ED2 are essentially the same in what they entail: a binding agreement to attend if you're accepted. The difference lies in the deadlines and decision notification dates.

ED1 deadlines are usually in November, with decision notifications in mid-December. This is a good option for students who have identified BU as their top choice university early in their college application process.

ED2, on the other hand, has a later deadline, typically in January, with decision notifications in mid-February. This is a great option for students who have decided later in their application process that BU is their top choice. Perhaps they were unsure about their top choice during the ED1 timeline, or perhaps they have applied to another college ED1 and were not accepted.

Both ED1 and ED2 applicants generally have an admissions advantage when applying to BU because they're showing a high level of interest in the school, plus the university can be confident that admitted ED students will enroll, which helps with its yield rate.

However, do remember that ED is a significant commitment. You should only apply ED (1 or 2) if you're certain BU is your top choice and you've reviewed the financial implications. You can estimate your potential financial aid package using BU's Net Price Calculator.

Also, if you apply ED and are deferred, your application will automatically be considered in the Regular Decision round. ED rules no longer apply if you're deferred. If you're waitlisted, the ED contract is also not in force. You could accept an offer from another college by May 1, but choose to enroll at BU if you're later admitted off the waitlist. So those are some scenarios to think about with ED2 at BU.

In summary, if you're 100% sure BU is your top choice and you've taken the time to consider the financial aspects and potential outcomes, ED2 could be a fantastic option for you given its admissions advantage and later timeline which allows more time to work on your application.